Dog dies supposedly as a result of Cartagena fireworks this weekend
A local animal welfare group has condemned the loud fireworks at the Fallas fiestas after a dog got spooked, ran away and later died
The Fallas celebrations in Cartagena this weekend just gone drew thousands of visitors and packed out hotels, but the event has also sparked serious concerns over animal welfare. At the centre of the controversy is the mascletá – a thunderous firework display designed to be as loud as possible – which has reportedly led to the death of a dog and the disappearance of several others.
The dog, which lived with its owners in the Santa Lucía area of Cartagena, ran away in panic during Sunday’s mascletá and was later found injured so severely that it had to be put down. Murcia animal welfare federation Animur has also reported that several other dogs fled and remain missing, while birds in a nearby park were seen fleeing from their nests due to the noise.
The mascletá, part of the Fallas programme brought from Valencia, involved more than 400 kilos of gunpowder and was heard across large parts of the city, including Tentegorra, Alameda de San Antón and the Virgen de la Caridad neighbourhood. While for many it was a moment of celebration, for animals, their owners and people with sensory sensitivities or certain health conditions, it meant fear, distress and, in some cases, harm.
Animur has criticised Cartagena City Council and event organisers for ignoring growing calls to adopt noise-free firework alternatives.
“When Spain is moving towards fireworks that are silent and only luminous, how is it possible that we are going backwards?” the group said in a statement. “Let us learn to live together with respect for the other beings that live with us. Let your fun not be the suffering of another being.”
Their objections had already been raised publicly in the days before the event was officially presented by councillor for Tourism Beatriz Sánchez del Álamo.
Despite the criticism, from a tourism and economic point of view the weekend was deemed a success. According to a Hostecar survey, the festival generated an 85.7% increase in hospitality profits compared to a regular weekend, with 100% of respondents calling it beneficial for the city.
Hotel occupancy reached 100% in Cartagena and 85% in La Manga. An estimated 20,000 people attended the events, with 1,384 more visitors registered than the same weekend in 2024. Over 2,000 of them came from Valencia, and social media engagement topped 400,000 views.
Images: Chema E. M. / Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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